Fumes suspected in Harrison Township boat explosion

It was back to business on Sunday at Roy's Boat Harbor in Harrison Township with boaters stopping in for fuel, supplies and snacks just 24 hours after a boat caught fire there, exploded and sank to the bottom of the Clinton River.

The captain and passenger of a 1988 34-foot Wellcraft suffered minor injuries and burns in the explosion that took place about 3:35 p.m. Saturday as they were gassing up the vessel for an afternoon of cruising Lake St. Clair.

"Once they were done putting gas in the tank, they hit the ignition button and the boat blew up," said Macomb County Sheriff Tony Wickersham.

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The explosion and resulting fire sent thick plumes of black smoke billowing into the air from the harbor on South River Road and could be seen for miles, according to witnesses.

The two men on board, a 44-year-old Warren man and his 42-year-old passenger from Sterling Heights, escaped from the burning vessel with burns to their chest and arms. They were taken to an area hospital for treatment but their condition on Sunday was not known.

Wickersham said investigators theorize the novice captain did not turn on the bilge blower, which would have ventilated gas fumes from the engine, before he started the engine.

The two men, who filled the tank with about $120 worth of gas, were taking the vessel out for the first time and not thoroughly familiar with how to operate it, officials said.

"They were super nice guys but we found out later it was their first boat and they had no idea what they were doing," said Keith Cunningham, owner of Roy's Boat Harbor. "But I'm glad no one was seriously hurt. This whole thing has been pretty shocking."

The sheriff said once the vessel caught fire, harbor employees tried to extinguish the flames before they cut the boat loose from the dock and pushed it into the middle of the river. If the workers hadn't taken that action, the flames might have ignited the gas tanks under the dock, which would have caused an enormous explosion.

The flames were eventually extinguished by the Macomb County Sheriff's marine patrol vessel along with firefighters from Harrison Township and Mount Clemens.

Cunningham said it was the first fire they've experienced in the 35 years since Roy's Boat Harbor has been in business. The company was founded by his father, Roy Cunningham.

"My son and I at first were trying to put it out, just praying the fire department would get here faster," Cunningham said. "Then we had to let it go, we pushed it out into the river away from our docks. Once the fire department and sheriff's marine patrol arrived, they did a great job."

The boat eventually sank to the bottom of the river. Late Saturday, Michigan Marine Salvage towed it out of the water, at the owner's expense, officials said.